ELIZABETHTON — By unanimous votes Thursday night, a bare quorum of the members of the Elizabethton Regional Planning Commission approved a rezoning of property in downtown Elizabethton and approved a new ordinance on flea markets.

All the votes passed 4-0. The only members present were Chairman Paul Bellamy, Bill Carter, Jeff Treadway and Ron Kirby. The items will now go before the City Council for final approval.

Planners noted that more flea markets have been appearing in different sections of town from time to time. The regulations were recommended to the commissioners by city staff to provide some guidelines for these loosely regulated enterprises.

Planning Director Jon Hartman said the only zones where flea markets would be permitted are B-2 arterial business and M-2 heavy industrial zones.

The regulation states there should be “no adverse effect on adjoining properties, including but not limited to excessive or untimely noise or lighting, overflow parking or visual problems potentially affecting property values or marketability.”

The ordinance would require a minimum 30-foot front setback and a minimum 20-foot setback from remaining property lines. No manufactured building would be allowed as part of a flea market site, and all the temporary structures would have to be stored in an enclosed building when the flea market is not in operation.

Flea markets would only be allowed to operate on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The flea markets would only be allowed to operate from April through October.

The planners also approved a staff request to rezone downtown property from E Street to Hattie Avenue and Lynn Avenue to Highway 19E. The rezone would expand the central business district.

The planners also approved a request by the Elizabethton Historic Zoning Commission to include the Blue Grays Field, a part of city-owned Douglas Park, as a city historic property landmark area. Jacey Augustus and her Cedar Grove Foundation also were involved in the request.

Hartman said the city is attempting to delineate the boundaries of the old field in order to provide for future restoration of the historic field.